Backhoe excavator or the like with power actuated side tilting handle



Aug. 26,` 1969 G. W. MORK BACKHOE EXCAVATOR OR THE LIKE` WITH POWERACTUATED SIDE 'IILTING HANDLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. l5, 1967INVENTOR GEORGE W. MORK Aug. '26, 1969 G. w. MoRK 3,463,336

BACKEOE ExCAvAToR 0E TEE LIKE WITH POWER Y ACTUATED SIDE TILTING HANDLE4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15,v 1967 fw 1;, mum

ATTORNEY Aug. 26, 1969 Q w, MORK 3,463,336

BACKHOE EXCAVATOR OR THE LIKE WITH POWER ACTUA'IED SIDE TILTING HANDLEFiled No-v. l5, 1967 4 Sheets-$heet I5 "/7 jays INVENTOR f l GEORGE w.MORK ATTORNEY' Aug. 26, 1969 v(; W, MORK 3,463,336

BACKHOE EXCAVATOR OR THE LIKE WITH POWER ACTUATED SIDE TILTING HANDLEFiled Nov. l5, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n; (OQ |l ll u) 0* ,I I

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AT TORNEY United States Patent Office 3,463,336 Patented Aug. 26, 1969ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A backhoe includes a hydraulically actuatedboom, handle, and bucket. The boom is L-shaped to define a vertical footportion and a horizontal reach portion, and the reach portion is dividedtransversely to define inner and outer boom sections. The outer sectionis rotatable with respect to the inner section, and a tilt shaft extendsrearwardly from the outer section through the remainder of the boomreach portion to terminate at an arm in line with the boom foot. A tiltcylinder on the foot is connected to the arm and is thereby operable torotate the outer section. The dig cylinder which actuates the handle isconnected to the outer boom section, so that it and the handle andbucket all move as a unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention primarily relates, but is notnecessarily limited, to hydraulic backhoe excavators. Such machinesgenerally include a revolving frame, a boom footed on the frame andpivotal in a vertical plane, and a handle pivotally mounted at the boomtip. There is a scoop or bucket at the end of the handle, and it ispreferable to have the bucket pivotal with respect to the handle to havea wrist action.

Where the frame, boom, handle and bucket are all movable, the machinehas four degrees of movement, and is accordingly quite versatile. Theboom, handle and bucket all move in the same plane, however, and it isdesirable to also have a fifth degree of movement-a tilting action inwhich the handle, and the bucket with it, pivots about an axiscorresponding to the centerline of the boom. This in effect shifts theplane of movement of the handle and bucket and provides for side reachwhich gives greatly increased eiciency in various types of diggingoperations.

The prior art shows arrangements for rotating or tilting part or all ofthe front end of an excavator, but none of the known arrangementsprovides for the efficiency and versatility afforded by this invention.By way of example, some prior art arrangements put a tilt actuatingmeans at or near the tip of the boom, and having this additional weightthus located can very seriously impair the overall eiliciency of themachine. Other known arrangements are too complicated or cumbersomeand/or fail to provide all of the desired degrees of movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to providean improved backhoe excavator or the like which allows for tive degreesof movement including tilting or side reach, two embodiment being shown.It is a further object of the invention to provide for side reach bymeans of a novel mechanism, two emmbodiments of which are shown, that ishighly eicient and of great mechanical strength while being relativelysimple and inexpensive and easy to operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l in a side View, schematic insome respects, showing a backhoe excavator according to this invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, with parts shown brokenaway and in cross section, more clearly illustrating the tilt mechanismof the excavator of FIG. l,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end view, through the plane 3--3 shownin FIG. 2, further illustrating the tilt mechanism,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in cross section, through the plane 4 4shown in FIG. 2, in which the range of tilting movement of the handleand bucket is illustrated in broken lines, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, with parts shown brokenaway and in cross section, similar to FIG. 2 which illustrates a secondembodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring rst to the embodimentof FIGS. 14, the excavator shown therein includes a conventional crawler1 and a revolving frame 2 which is revolvably mounted on the crawler 1in known manner to provide for what is termed a swing action in whichthe whole frame 2 and all of its associated elements revolve about avertical axis at about the center of the crawler 1.

A boom designated generally by the reference numeral 3 is pivotallyfooted on the frame 2 at 4 to be movable in a vertical plane, thusproviding for what is referred to as a hoisting action. Hoistingmovement of the boom 3 is effected by means of a pair of parallel,hydraulic hoist cylinders 5, only one of which can be seen in thedrawings, disposed on either side of the boom 3, the cylinders 5 beingmounted on the frame 2 and connected to the boom 3 at 6.

The boom 3 is angled or L-shaped to dene a generally vertical footportion 7 and a generally horizontal reach portion 8. The reach portion8 is divided immediately forward at the point of connection `6 of thehoist cylinders 5 to define an inner boom section 9 and an outer boomsection 10 that is coaxial therewith. As will be discussed more fullybelow, the outer boom section 10 is rotatable with respect to the innerboom section 9 to provide the desired tilting action.

A handle 11 is connected to the outer boom section 10 and is pivotalwith respect thereto to provide a digging action. Digging movement ofthe handle 11 is effected by a hydraulic digging cylinder 12 which isconnected and operable between the upper end of the handle 11 and apoint 13 on the boom 3 which is on the outer boom section 10.

A bucket 14 is connected to the lower end of the handle 11 at 14', andis pivotal with respect thereto to provide what is called a wristaction. This pivotal or wrist motion is provided by a hydraulic wristcylinder 15 which is connected to and operable between the handle 11 anda pair of rigid links 16 which have inner ends pivotally connectedtogether at the point of connection to the cylinder 15 and outer endsrespectively pivotally connected to the handle 11 and bucket 14.

With the exception of the divided construction of the boom 3, theelements thus far described are generally conventional and operate infashion known to those skilled in the art, so that no furtherdescription. is necessary. The general arrangement shown provides fourdegrees of movement, a swinging movement resulting from the frame 2revolving on the crawler 1, a hoisting movement resulting from raisingand lowering of the boom 3 by the cylinders 5, a digging movementresulting from actuation of the handle 11 by the cylinder 12, and awrist movement resulting from pivoting of the bucket 14 about the point14' by the cylinder 15 through the links 16. Suitable hydrauliccircuitry (not shown but known to those skilled in the art) is of courseprovided for the several cylinders.

The boom 3 is of a hollow, box-like construction with a generallyrectangular cross section, and is provided with suitable structuralbracing members (not shown). A circular disc 17 is welded or otherwiseaffixed to the inner end of the outer boom section 1f) and defines anoutwardly extending circumferential flange. The disc 17 is provided witha splined, rearwardly extending central quill portion 18. A second disc19 is affixed to the outer end of the inner boom section 9 and defines asecond circumferential flange which mates with and faces the fiangedefined =by the ring 17. The ring 19 is provided with a relativelylarger central opening 20 through which the quill 18 extends.

A split-collar coupling 21 comprises two sections 21' which arereleasably held together by bolts 22. The sections 21 are of a generallyU-shaped cross section seen best in FIG. 2, and receive the flangesdefined by the rings 17 and 19, the several elements shown thus servingas coupling means to connect the inner and outer boom sections 9 and 10together while allowing for relative rotation therebetween. Grease ports23 are provided through the coupling 21 to allow for lubrication.

A tilt shaft 24, preferably tubular, has a splined forward end 25 whichis received in the quill 18 so that the shaft 24 is keyed to the disc 17and, therefore, the outer boom section 10. The shaft 24 extendsrearwardly through the remainder of the reach portion 8, which forms apart of the inner boom section 9, and outwardly through a suitablecollar bearing 26. A bifurcated arm 27 is fixed to the rear end of theshaft 24 immediately to the rear of the bearing 26 and is generally inline with the boom foot portion 7. A transverse pin 28 extends betweenthe parts of the arm 27 and is disposed radially outwardly from thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 24. A latch 29 is pivotally mounted onthe boom 3 at 3f) and can be swung over the rear surface of the arm 27to help hold the shaft 24 axially in position.

A double acting hydraulic tilt cylinder 31 has its cylinder endpivotally attached to a bracket 32 formed on one side of the boom footportion 7. The piston end of the cylinder 31 is attached to the pin 28to pivotally connect the cylinder 31 thereto.

It will be obvious that extension and retraction of the cylinder 31,again through suitable hydraulic circuitry, will cause pivoting of thearm 27 and result in rotation of the shaft 24 which will in turn causethe outer boom section 1f) and the handle 11, and all their associatedelements, to rotate about an axis approximately corresponding to thelongitudinal centerline of the boom 3 (actually the centerline of thereach portion 8 which constitutes the major portion of the boom 3). Thecylinder 31, arm 27, shaft 24 and their associated elements thus serveas a tilt mechanism. In the embodiment shown, the tilt mechanism isadapted to afford rotational movement of 45 in either direction fromvertical, so that the plane of movement of the handle 11 is shiftableover a total of 90 between the extreme positions illustrated in brokenlines in FIG. 4. It will be appreciated that this provides a verysubstantial side reach which will be of great value in various types ofdigging operations.

It is important to note that the digging cylinder 12, which constitutesan actuating means for the handle 11, is connected to the outer boomsection 10` and moves with it and the handle 11 as a unit. Thisdistinguishes, for example, from prior art constructions in which cableoperating means for a handle or dipper stick led backwardly from theupper end of the handle or stick to a frame and, therefore, weresubjected to side forces upon a tilting of the forward end of the boom.Similarly, the hoist cylinders are connected to the inner boom section9, so that rotation of the forward portion does not affect theiroperation.

It is also extremely important to note that the tilt cylinder 31 and arm27 are located well toward the rear of the boom 3 as a whole. Thisdistinguishes from prior art constructions in which actuating elementsfor a rotating boom section are located toward the outer end of the boomwhere their weight can seriously affect the capacity of the boom and themachine overall. The L- shaped boom 3 divided in the reach portion 8 isalso important in that it allows for a relatively simple shaft andcylinder tilt actuating mechanism as shown. The shaft 24 can easily beproperly supported by the remainder or rear portion of the boom reachportion 8, and the foot 7 affords a desirable location for the mountingof the cylinder 31 in a position normal to the shaft 24 and at the rearof the boom 3.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 is basically very muchthe same as the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, but is especially suitable forlarger machines in which the weight of the discs 17, 19 and the coupling21 might present a problem.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 includes an inner boom section 33, like thesection 9, which is raised and lowered in a hoisting action by a pair ofhoist cylinders 34 (only one of which can be seen) which are like thecylinders 5 and are connected to the boom section 33 at 35. The section33 includes a boom foot portion 36, like the portion 7, which has abracket 37, like the bracket 32, which mounts a tilt cylinder 38 whichis like the cylinder 31.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, however, the outer boom section 10 and thetilt shaft 24 have, in essence, been combined into a continuouscylindrical tube member 39. The forward end of the tube 39 extends tothe left as seen in FIG. 5 to serve as a forward boom section, and therear end extends to the right to serve as a tilt shaft.

The boom section 33 is provided at its forward end with a tubularbearing portion 40. A pair of outwardly opening curved channels 41, eachhaving an arcuate extent of somewhat less than are fixed to the tube 39in line with the bearing 40. A pair of curved bearing segments 42 arereceived in the channels 41 and extend radially outwardly therefrom sothat they serve to provide a bearing surface in engagement with thebearing 40 as the tube 39 rotates. The segments 42 preferably have anarcuate extent of 180 each to form a continuous bearing surface. A pairof diametrically opposite headed dowel pins 43, only one of which can beseen, are fixed to the tube 39 and channels `41, and have heads whichare received in corresponding openings 44, one in each segment 42, tohold the segments 42 against movement about the axis of the tube 39. Thesegments 42 provide an efficient bearing surface, and are easilyreplaceable when necessary.

The bearing 40, segments. 42 and associated elements serve of course todefine the dividing point between the boom and shaft portions of thecontinuous tube 39. A digging cylinder (not shown but like the cylinder12) is of course connected to the outer boom section portion of the tube39 to be movable therewith.

At its rear end, the tube 391 is fitted with a solid, stepped plug 45.Near its end closest to the tube 39, to the left as seen in FIG. 5, theplug 45 supports a tubular bearing collar 46 which is received in andengages a tubular bearing 47 provided on the boom section 33. Washers 48are disposed on either side of the bearings 46, 47.

A11 arm `49, like the arm 27, has a spline connection with the sectionof the plug 45 immediately to the rear of the bearings 46, 47, and isconnected to the cylinder 38 by a pin 50. A washer 51 is immediately tothe rear of the arm 49, and the several elements are fixed in place bymeans of a nut 52 on a threaded portion 53 at the rearmost end of theplug 45.

It will be obvious that the tube 39 is held against axial movement butis capable of rotating in response to actuation of the cylinder 38. Thiswill of course cause tilting of a handle and its associated elements(not shown in FIG. 5 but like those shown in FIGS. 1-4). As previouslyindicated, the construction of FIG. 5 is especially suitable for largemachines because it eliminates the discs 17, 19 and the coupling 21 ofFIGS. 1-4, coupling in the case of FIG. 5 being accomplished by theseveral elements associated with the plug 45. Even though these elementsconstitute a different form of coupling means and even though the outerboom section and tilt shaft are one rather than separate elements,however, the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is essentially thesame and this embodiment offers corresponding generic advantages.

Both embodiments of the invention shown herein provide for five degreesof movement and are extremely versatile, being suitable for almost anytype of digging operation, The mechanisms for effecting the fifth degreeof movement, the tilting action, are both relatively sirnple andinexpensive, but quite effective. It will be obvious that the tilt shaftand cylinder arrangement shown is easily adaptable to large and heavymachines, and is especially satisfactory in that the primary additionalweight is located toward the rear of the boom. Although preferredembodiments of the invention have been shown and described he-rein,however, it will be obvious that modifications might be made withoutdeparture from the spirit of the invention. Other tilt mechanisms orcoupling means might be substituted, for example; or the same tiltingarrangements might be used in a different type of excavator, even onewhich does not provide one or more of the four basic degrees of movementsuch as the wrist action, or in similar or related machines used forsimilar or related purposes. The invention yis not, therefore, intendedto be limited by the showings herein or any other manner except insofaras `limitations appear specifically in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an excavator or the like having: a frame that is revolvable abouta vertical axis; a boom pivotally mounted on the frame and hoist meansto pivot the boom; a handle pivotally mounted on the boom and diggingactuator means to pivot the handle; and a bucket pivotally mounted onthe handle and wrist means to pivot the bucket, the boom, Ihandle andbucket all ordinarily being pivotal in a common vertical plane,

the improvement wherein:

the boom is transversely divided intermediate its ends to define alignedinner and outer sections, the inner section being mounted on the frameand the handle being mounted on the outer section; and there is acoupling means connecting the boom sections which prevents relativeaxial movement but allows relative rotation therebetween; and there is apower tilt mechanism operable to rotate the outer boom section withrespect to the inner section to shift the plane of pivotal movement ofthe handle about an axis corresponding to the centerline of the boom.

2. An excavator or the like according to claim 1 wherein the diggingactuator means comprises a hydraulic cylinder connected to and operablebetween the handle and the outer boom section.

3. An excavator or the like according to claim 2 wherein the tiltmechanism comprises: shaft means leading rearwardly from the outer boomsection to terminate at -a rear end near the inner end of the boom; anarm affixed to and radially extending from the rear end of the shaftmeans; and a hydraulic cylinder connected to and operable between theinner section of the boom and the outer end of the arm.

4. An excavator or the like according to claim 3l wherein: the boom isL-shaped to define a generally vertical foot portion and a generallyhorizontal reach portion, the division in the boom being in the reachportion so that the inner boom section includes a rear portion of thereach portion as well as the foot portion; and wherein the shaft meansextends rearwardly along the rear portion of the reach portion and hasits rear end in alignment with the foot portion; and wherein the tiltcylinder is connected and generally parallel to the boom foot portion.

5. An excavator or the like according to claim 4 wherein: the facingends of the inner and outer boom sections are provided with matingcircumferential flanges; and wherein the coupling means comprises asplit collar which encircles the boom and has a U-shaped cross sectionto receive the flanges.

6. An excavator or the like according to claim 4 wherein: the rearportion of the boom reach portion is of a hollow box-like construction;`and the outer boom section and the shaft means comprise a continuouscylindrical member having a rear portion extending through and supportedby the rear reach portion.

7. In an excavator or the like including; a pivotal boom and hoist meansto pivot the boom; a handle pivotally mounted on the boom and diggingactuator means to pivot the handle; and a bucket on the handle, the boomand handle ordinarily being pivotal in a common plane,

the improvement wherein:

the boom is divided intermediate its ends to define aligned inner andouter sections, the inner section being adapted to be pivotally mountedon a frame and the handle being mounted on the outer section; and thereis a coupling means connecting the boom sections which prevents relativeaxial movement but allows relative rotation therebetween; and there is apower tilt mechanism operable to rotate the outer boom section withrespect to the inner boom section to shift the plane of movement of thehandle.

8. An excavator or the like according to claim 7 wherein the tiltmechanism comprises: shaft means leading rearwardly from the outer boomsection to terminate at a rear end; an arm fixed to the rear end of theshaft means and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and a hydrauliccylinder connected to and operable between the inner section of the boomand the outer end of the arm.

9. An excavator or the like according to claim 8 wherein: the boom isL-shaped to define a generally vertical foot portion and a generallyhorizontal reach portion, the division in the boom being in the reachportion so that the inner boom section includes a rear portion of thereach portion as well as the foot portion; and wherein the shaft meansextends rearwardly along the rear portion of the reach portion and hasits rear end in alignment with the foot portion; and wherein the tiltcylinder is conneced and generally parallel to the boom foot portion.

10. An excavator or the like according to claim 9 wherein: the rearportion of the boom reach portion is of a hollow box-like construction;and wherein the outer boom section and shaft means comprise a continuouscylindrical member having a rear portion which extends through and isbearingly supported in the rear reach portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,305,566 12/1942 Weston et al214-138 3,237,791 3/ 1966 Soyland 2'14--138 HUGO O. SCHULZ, PrimaryExaminer U.S. C1. X.R. 214--768

